Hop to It: TTB’s Pilot Could Simplify Your Reporting Game
At the Craft Brewers Conference last week, I had the pleasure of attending a breakout session led by Caroline May, Assistant Administrator for Permitting and Taxation at TTB. She covered a few key updates that should be on every brewer’s radar, including:
The expansion of ingredients that no longer require formula approval
Clarification on allowable standards of fill for wine and distilled spirits (see update here)
And perhaps most notably — the TTB's new tax simplification pilot program for brewers
So… What Ingredients Got the Green Light?
Here’s a quick peek at the newly exempt ingredients — meaning they no longer require formula approval when used in beer. (Always double-check the full list on the TTB’s site to be safe.)
Almonds, Bananas, Beets, Cantaloupe, Carrots*, Cucumbers*, Dandelion Greens*, Dill*, Dragon Fruit*, Elderberries*, Guava*, Hazelnuts, Lavender** (includes lavender and spike lavender; whole, juice, purée, or concentrate), Lychee Fruit, Papaya, Peanuts, Pecans, Pistachios, Prickly Pear Fruit*, Rhubarb** (stalks or stems only), Rose Hip, Spruce* (only the tips, needles, and twigs), Tea (yes, that includes Earl Grey), and Walnuts.
* whole, juice, purée, or concentrate only
Let’s Talk Tax Simplification!
So, what is this pilot program all about?
In Short - Simplified Reporting with a Dash of Goodness!
The system reduces the information needed for reporting, saving taxpayers time.
The forms are designed to be more user-friendly and easier to understand.
The forms include built-in calculations to help ensure accuracy in reporting.
Taxpayers can use Pay.gov to electronically file their returns and reports.
Automated Reminders
Breweries that qualify can now opt into using alternate excise tax form and operational reports.
Who Can Join In?
Brewers who:
Have an approved Brewer’s Notice
Pay excise tax on an annual, quarterly, or semimonthly basis
Are not required to prepay taxes
If this is you, you’re in the running.
Why You Should Care!
Because less paperwork = More time to run your business.
This is part of a broader push by TTB to modernize how brewers report and pay taxes. Plus, it gives you the chance to shape how future systems work. Brewer feedback matters here.
Want In? Here’s What You’ll Need:
A letter on brewery letterhead, signed by someone with signing authority per your Brewer’s Notice
Electronic tax payments via ACH or Fedwire
Use of Pay.gov to file pilot forms
Compliance with all recordkeeping and reporting requirements
Once accepted, you’ll stay in the program unless you choose to opt out.
One More Thing…
You might be wondering — what about those proposed label changes? (Yes, the alcohol facts panel and major allergen disclosure ones.)
Unfortunately, those weren’t addressed during the session. According to Marc Sorini, VP of Government Affairs at the Brewers Association, the TTB isn’t able to discuss them yet, since they’re still in the proposal phase. Stay tuned.
More to come as this unfolds. In the meantime, if navigating TTB updates feels like deciphering ancient scrolls, you know where to find me.
Stay compliant. Stay focused. Keep brewing.
